FIRST Division Rotherham United are not only interested in Bury's Chris Swailes, they are also after long-serving skipper Nick Daws.

The Millers assistant manager John Breckin revealed that he and boss Ronnie Moore were currently compiling a list of players they want to bring in and both Daws and Swailes are likely to be on it.

Rotherham, promoted this season along with Millwall, are particularly keen to recruit players with First Division experience and both Shakers players have been there and done that.

Breckin said: "They are two lads we have admired over the last couple of seasons.

''We are looking to bring in some good youngsters and we've just signed one from Manchester United, but we also need about three players with experience of playing in the First Division and the two from Bury fit that.

''We have achieved something similar to what Bury did by coming up through two divisions and it is going to be very hard for us to stay in the First. That's why we need some new faces.

''However, there is nothing definite at the moment. We are still drawing up a list of who we want and then we will act.''

Breckin confirmed that he and Moore approached Bury on deadline day with a view to signing Swailes, but refused to pay the £100,000 asking price.

What isn't common knowledge is that they also enquired about Daws, but were told the fee would be around £175,000. Again Rotherham baulked at that. Both players are out of contract on June 30 (though Daws has an option to stay for a further 12 months) and Rotherham would then be able to get their men on a free.

Chairman Terry Robinson admitted as much. He told the Bury Times: ''Chris Swailes has had a new contract offered to him by the club, like the other players.

''With him being in a Bosman situation he is in the position where he can speak to other clubs.''

Swailes told journalists towards the end of the season to not ''hold it against'' him if he did leave.

It is believed he is looking to move on mainly because the contract offered to him by Bury is substantially less money than he was previously earning.

The news that Rotherham are chasing two of Bury's stars emphasises how important it is to resolve the takeover situation.

The sooner new owners arrive the better because the club can then fight harder, and perhaps offer more money, to keep their out-of-contract players.

If the new owners aren't in place by the end of June however - when the contracts of Swailes, Steve Redmond, Chris Billy and others expire - then we could see several players leave Gigg Lane.

Tuesday's edition of the Bury Times exclusively revealed that a £1 million bid for the club from a mystery consortium has been accepted.

The deal will go through if it is given the go ahead by the High Court but the BT has learned that at least one other consortium is still hopeful of purchasing the club.